With a stylistic flavor characteristic of elevated Romantic ideals combined with ornate “battle-piece” rhetoric, Captain Nelson Penfield of the 125th New York Infantry provides historians with a field account of Federal engagements at the Battle of the Wilderness. His report begins on May 3, 1864, crossing the Rapidan River at Ely’s Ford along with the other units under the command of Brigadier-General...

On June 29, 1864 President Lincoln sent a telegram to his wife who was traveling in New York: "All well, Tom is moving things out." This telegram is referring to one of the family's employees, who was likely helping the family move their belongings from the White House to the Soldiers Home, just two and a half miles away. This telegram signified the start of the Lincolns'...

Ten-year-old Carrie Berry lived with her family in Atlanta, Georgia in 1864 while Union general Sherman tried to capture Atlanta. The diary that Berry kept daily shows the immediate effect of the war on her and her family.

Sherman's offensive against Atlanta brought a lot of damage to the city, and made things very difficult for the residents. Berry wrote about the difficulties her family...

Paralyzed by fear she sat in the cellar praying to survive the Union attack on Dixie. The Berry estate was a sitting duck amongst cross fire between Union and Confederate soldiers as ammunitions echo in the yard. Carrie Berry describes the daily “shellings” or constant barrage of gunfire as it penetrates the house, ricochets off trees and pierces the ground above. Sometimes the ammunitions...

On August 4, 1864, fifty Confederate prisoners of war were exchanged for fifty Union prisoners in Charleston, South Carolina. News of this exchange quickly spread among the Confederate prisoners held at Fort Delaware, although the more skeptical men pointed out the lack of evidence, and without further information, the discussion quieted. The rumor revived when a Union sergeant told an officer guarding...

Born on December 9, 1842 Angelo Crapsey was born to John and Mercy Crapsey in New York. At the age of eighteen-years-old the Civil War broke out in American and young Angelo Crapsey decided to enlist in the military and fight for the Union Army. Soon after that he participated in battles that would change his short life forever. He fought at Gettysburg and Antietam and came out unharmed...